Murray C S, Tannock G W, Simon M A, Harmsen H J M, Welling G W, Custovic A, Woodcock A
North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Clin Exp Allergy. 2005 Jun;35(6):741-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02259.x.
It has been suggested that intestinal microbiota of allergic and non-allergic children differs in composition, and that microbiota-immune system interactions may predispose children to develop sensitization. Previous studies have examined fecal microbiota of allergic children with atopic dermatitis, but little is known about that of atopic wheezy children.
To investigate the composition of the fecal microbiota of young sensitized wheezy and non-sensitized non-wheezy children, using molecular methods.
Within the context of a prospective birth cohort, we carried out a nested case-control study of sensitized wheezy children (cases) and non-sensitized non-wheezy controls. Cases and controls were matched for age, sex, parental atopy, allergen exposure, and pet ownership. We evaluated the composition of fecal microbiota by nucleic acid-based methods (PCR combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantification of bifidobacteria by fluorescent in situ hybridization).
Thirty-three case-control pairs (mean age 4.4 years) provided stool samples. Comparison of total bacterial community profiles showed that each child had a unique fecal microbiota (mean Dice's similarity coefficient 22%, range 3.3-60.8%). There was no difference between the groups in prevalence of Lactic Acid bacteria (12/33 vs. 11/33, P=0.8) or bifidobacteria (30/33 vs. 31/33, P=1.00, cases vs. controls). The bifidobacterial species detected were similar in both groups. The percentage of bifidobacteria in total fecal microflora was no different between cases (median 1.7%, range 0-20.8%) and controls (1.9%, 0-18.2%, P=0.7). However, cases with eczema had significantly fewer bifidobacteria (median 1.6%, range 0-4.8%) than their controls (4.0%, 1.9-18.2%, P=0.05).
We found no differences in fecal microbiota composition between sensitized wheezy and non-sensitized, non-wheezy children aged 3-5 years using nucleic acid-based methods. Differences appear to be isolated to those allergic children with eczema.
有研究表明，过敏和非过敏儿童的肠道微生物群在组成上存在差异，且微生物群与免疫系统的相互作用可能使儿童易发生致敏。既往研究已对患有特应性皮炎的过敏儿童的粪便微生物群进行了检测，但对于患有特应性喘息的儿童的粪便微生物群了解甚少。
采用分子方法研究致敏喘息儿童和非致敏非喘息儿童粪便微生物群的组成。
在一项前瞻性出生队列研究中，我们对致敏喘息儿童（病例组）和非致敏非喘息儿童（对照组）进行了巢式病例对照研究。病例组和对照组在年龄、性别、父母特应性、过敏原暴露情况及是否饲养宠物方面进行了匹配。我们通过基于核酸的方法（聚合酶链反应结合变性梯度凝胶电泳以及荧光原位杂交定量双歧杆菌）评估粪便微生物群的组成。
33对病例对照（平均年龄4.4岁）提供了粪便样本。对总细菌群落图谱的比较显示，每个儿童都有独特的粪便微生物群（平均戴斯相似系数22%，范围3.3%-60.8%）。两组之间乳酸菌的患病率（12/33对11/33，P=0.8）或双歧杆菌的患病率（30/33对31/33，P=1.00，病例组对对照组）没有差异。两组中检测到的双歧杆菌种类相似。病例组（中位数1.7%，范围0%-20.8%）和对照组（1.9%[0%-18.2%]，P=0.7）粪便微生物群中双歧杆菌的百分比没有差异。然而，患有湿疹的病例组双歧杆菌数量（中位数1.6%，范围0%-4.8%）显著少于其对照组（4.0%[1.9%-18.2%]，P=0.05）。
我们采用基于核酸的方法发现，3-5岁的致敏喘息儿童和非致敏非喘息儿童的粪便微生物群组成没有差异。差异似乎仅存在于患有湿疹的过敏儿童中。
